Electric wiring device



M. GUETT Filed Jan.

ELECTRIC WIRING DEVICE INVENTOR MONROE GUETT BY HIS ATTORNEYS May 16, 1933.

TEHTE,

Patented May 16, 1933 MONROE G'UET'I. F HARTFORD, CQNNEGTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROW-HART & HEGEMZAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, (OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICU T ELECTRIC WIRING DEVICE Application filed January 17, 1933. Serial No. 65%,226.

This invention relates to electric wiring devices, more particularly it relates to means for interchangeably securing upon a supporting bridge or member a plurality of similar ordissimilar wiring devices of approximately the same size. Examples of the type of devices to whlch I refer are electric switches, electric attachment plug receptacles, and electric pilot or warning light containers. 7

It is an object of this invention to make a bridge adapted to receive, interchangably, one or more electric wiring. devices and-to provide readily releasable means for securing said devices upon said bridge in such a manner that they may be readily secured in place, or removed upon the release of said securing means, without the use of tools. Another object is to provide securing means of the above type which are separable from the bridge or supporting member.

Another object'is to provide one securing member which will suffice to hold one or f more electric wiring devices upon a bridge or support of the above type.

One advantage of this invention is that with a small number of difierent wiring devices in stock, many combinations of them mounted in various positions on a supporting bridge or any one of the devices mounted alone on,a bridge can be quickly assembled; or a previously assembled combination may be changed or completely disassembled quickly and without the use of any tools.

Other objects and advantages of myinventionwill become apparent as the invention is described in connection with the accompanying drawing In the drawing Figure l is a plan view of the invention. Figure 2 is a left end view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the invention shown in Figure 1 when mounted in a wall box.

Figure 4: is a fragmentary plan View of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, in end elevation of the modification shown in Figure 4,

the section being taken on'line 5-5.of Figure 4-.

Referring to the drawing abridge member 10 stamped from sheet metal has apertures 12 in its opposite ends through which screws may pass to secure the bridge in a single gang outlet or wall box 13. It is pre-' ferred to make the bridge short and narrow enough to fit into a single gang box, though it will be obvious that the size of the bridge and the other parts of this invention may be so varied to suit the desires of turer or user of this device.

Preferably, low flanges '14 are bent up from the bridge on opposite sides and exthe manufactending along the midportion of the bridge a;

any of several types of switch 20 respectively.

The switch mechanism and internal construction of these wiring devices form 110- part of this invention. Any one of a number of conventional single pole, double pole way switch mechanisms may be or tinge employ d and it is not essential that it be operated by a lever. Likewise the construction of the attachment plug receptacle may be in any one of a number of conventional forms. I

The casings 'in which the switch mechanism and parts of the attachment plug receptacle' are contained 'arepreferabl rectangular, each casing being provide with a reduced neck 22 of dimensions slightly W smaller than the apertures 16 so as to be slidable therein. The casings of the switches and receptacles are ma e larger in cross-sectional area than the area of the apertures 16 thus forming shoulders 24 adjacent the necks 22. These shoulders rest against the lower or inner face of the bridge and prevent the casings from passin throu h the apertures. 10 %o hol the wiring devices in place upon the bridge a pair of parallel passages 25 are formed in the necks 22 just above the upper face of the bridge into which passa es a securing member 26, hereinafter more ully described, slides. These passages run .lengthwise of the bridge parallel to the flanges 14 and are so formed that the passa es of one device (for example the switch are in registry or alignment with the 20 passages of another device (for example attachment plug receptacle 18) when said devices are inserted in the apertures of the bridge.

The securing member 26 may be made from wire or thin metal rod bent into U- ,sha with the transverse part 26a bent at rig t angles to the arms so as to be more readil grasped by a persons fingers during assem 1y of the wiring devices on the bridge and their removal therefrom.

. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the devices 18 and 20 may have their necks slipped through the apertures 16 and held there by sliding\the securing device26 through the parallel passages in the necks. The close proximity of the passages and securing member to the surface of the bridge prevents in-and-otit movement of the wiring devices while the securing member is in lace.

n Figures 4 and 5, I haveshown another method'for securing the wiring devices on the bridge. In this form of the invention the bridge 40 is like bridge 20 except that tongues 42 are formed on it and extend from one side into the bridge apertures. These tongues are adapted to fitfinto recesses or grooves 44 in the necks 43 of the wiring devices 45 on one side. In the other sides of the necks are passages 46-similar to the passages 25 in Figures 1-3 for the securing device 26. Into these passages 46 a wire'or I thin rod 48 may be inserted. The securin rod 48 together with the tongue 42 will su fice to hold the wiring device onthe brid e. Lateral and longitudinal movement of tie devices in the apertures is prevented by the close fit of the necks in the apertures, and;

transverse or in-and-out movement is pre-- 00 vented by the shoulders 47 of the wiring devices engaging with one face of the bridge and bythe engagement of the securing rod 48 with the other surface of the bridge and by the enga ement of the .tongue 42 with 86 both sides 0 the groove or recess 44.

Thus I have provided a very inexpensive means to secure wiring devices interchangabridge, and this means will not tools for its manipulation. My

also advantageous because incidentally released may be held in place,

temporarily by hand until the securing member is slid back in place.

I claim 1- 1. In combination, a one piece bridge member having a plurality of apertures therein and being adapted to be secured to the front of an outlet box, a plurality of in-' dependent wiring devices having portions adapted to fit into said apertures and being provided with assages which are in alignment when sai necks are inserted in said apertaires, and a detachable member independent of and slidable parallel with said bridge member and into said passages to secure said wiring devices detachably on said bridge member.

.2. In combination, a one piece bridge member having a plurality of apertures therein and being adapted to be secured to the front of an outlet box, a plurality of independent wiring devices having portions adapted to fit into said apertures and being provided with parallel passages which are in alignment when said portions are inserted I in 'said a rtures, and a single U-shaped member slidable through all said passages to hold said devices on said bridge member.

3. In combination, a one piece bridge member having a plurality of apertures therein and being adapted to secured to the front of an outlet box, a plurality of in,- dependent wiring devices having portions provided with parallel passages which are in alignment when said rtions are inserted in said apertures, an a single U-shaped member slidable through all said passages to hold said devices on said bridge member, said securing member being located on the opposite side of said bridge from the main bodies of said wiring devices.

4. In combination, a one piece bridge member having apertures therein and being luralityof apertures adapted to fit into said apertures and being the front of an outlet box, a plurality of independent wiring devices having portions adapted to fit into said apertures and being provided with assa es which are in alignment when sai nec s are inserted in said apertures, and a detachable member independent of said bridge member and slidable mto said passages to secure said wiring devices detachably on said bridge member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MONROE GUETT. 

